Method and apparatus for refining hydrocarbons



March-18 1924. 1,487,438

I C. R. BURKE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REFINING HYDROCARBONS Filed Jan. 20. 1922 2 Sheen-Sheet 1 1 m m Q A March 18 1924. 7 1,487,438

c. R. BURKE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REFINING HYDROCARBONS Filed Jan. 20, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 18, 1924.

CHARLES R. BURKE, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNOR TO LOUISE I. B URKE, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REFINING HYDROCARBONS.

Application filed January 20, 1922. Serial No. 530,604.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES R. BURKE,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Tulsa, in the county of Tulsa and State of e Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods and Apparatus for Refining Hydrocarbons; and I do hereby" declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of. the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in the method of manufacturing low boiling point petroleum products, and it is in the nature of an improvement of the method and apparatus set forth in the patent granted to me on Sept. 6, 1921, No. 1,389,934. The object of the present invention is to so greatly increase the production of the desired products from a high boiling point product of petroleum distillation. ,Another object is to more carefully regulate the rate of such production from either one still and holder or several stills and one holder, thus permitting longer or continuous operations if desired.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated an apparatus suitable for the practice of my improved method;

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a complete apparatus provided with my improvements.

Fig. 2 is a front view of aportion of an apparatus of modified construction.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing, A designates any suitable type of still heated by means of a heater B. Arranged above the still is a separatory tank or holder C having a contracted neck G which places the interior of the holder in communication with v the interior of the still. Extending from the holder is a vapor pipe D leading to a condenser E, that is connected by a pipe E to a distillate receiver F. A pipe G conveys the gases from the pipe E to an ordinary gas holder I. The pipe G is provided with an injector H employed for carrying the uncondense'd vapors or gases to the holder I. It will be understood that the injector H, while strong enough to draw vaoors and gases through the pipe G, will not have sufsame as t of the same condense. The holder is preferabl of a size capable of holding approxiof the oil charged into the still and during operation, the condensate formed in the holder is continuously returned to the still, while the lighter vapors pass off through the pipe D and are condensed in the condenser E.

I have found from actual practice that it is desirable to transfer a portion of the condensate from the holder C directly into the .still A without passing the same through the contracted neck C. In order to accomplish this, I have extended a pipe J from the lower portion of the holder C to a pump K having an outlet pipe 'L leading to the lower portion of the still A. The pi es J and L are provided with suitable Va ves j and Z. In using this construction, the actuation of the ump K will cause condensate from the holder C to flow directly into the lower portion of the still A, and owing to this method the production of the desired low boiling point products is. greatly increased.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 2, three stills A, A and A are shown, and arranged above these stills is a separatory tank or condensate holder C having a vapor outlet pipe D. The lower end of the holder C is connected by relatively small pipes C to the upper ends of the stills, and these pipes are provided with valves C so that any one, or all of the pipes may be closed. A pipe J extends from the lower portion of the holder to a pump K having an outlet pipe L connected to a manifold M provided with branches N that lead to the lower portions of the stills.

Each pipe N is provided with a valve n to control the passage of the condensate to either or all of the stills. In operating the construction shown in Fig. 2, a high boiling point product is placed in one or mate y fifty per cent or more of the contents more of the stills and heat is applied to the same. As the vapors are produced, they ass through one or more of the pipes into the holder C where the heavier portions of the same are condensed and these condensates may flow back through the pipes G into the upper portions of the stills. When a sufiicient uantity of condensate has gathered in t e holderC the pump K may be put into operation and then the condensate from the holder may be transferred directly to the lower portion or portions of one or more of the stills,

From the foregoin it will be understood that condensates in the holder C or C may be passed directly into the upper portionsing means.

of one of the stills or may be transferred directly to the lower portion of one of the stills, and by the use of the apparatus disclosed, theproduction of the desired low boiling pointproducts may be greatly increased. Further than this, by properly manipulating the valves, the distillation may be carried on for longer periods, and as a matter of fact may be continuous.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In the art of treating hydrocarbon oils, the method which consists in maintaining a body of hydrocarbon liquid in a holder, vaporizing and cracking hydrocarbon oil in a plurality of stills, conducting vapor from the stills through constricted passage ways and discharging it into said hydrocarbon oil in the holder at a point below the surface of the oil therein, permitting the hot vapors to rise freely in the oil in said holder thereby heating the last mentioned oil and at the same time condensing high boiling point fractions of the vapor, conducting vapor from the surface of the-oil in the holder to a condenser, permitting the heated condensate to flow from the holder into the stills through said constricted passa e ways, and leading a portion of the condensate from the holder to any of the stills without conveyinlg the same throu h said passage ways,

2. 11 an apparatus or refininghydrocarbons, a plurality of stills, a holder, a narrow passage way connecting each still to the holder and adapted to convey vapor from the still with which it is associated to the holder and to permit condensate from the .the stills Without holder to return to the still, a condenser operatively connected with said holder, and conveying-means for conducting a. portion of the condensate from the holder to any of passing the same through said assage ways.

3. 11 an apparatus as claimed in claim 2, a liquid forcing element forming part of said conveying means.

4. In an apparatus as claimed in claim 2, valves arranged in said conveying means for controlling the passage of liquid therethrou h. a

5. ii an apparatus as claimed in claim 2, a pump forming part of the conveying means, and valves arranged in the convey- 6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in

which the conveying means includes a pump,

a pipe fori'ning the inlet of the pump and extending to the lower portion of the holder, another pipe forming the outlet of the pump and provided with branch pipes extending to the lower portion of the stills, and valves arranged in said pipes.

7. An apparatus of the class described including a plurality of stills, a. holder, a condenser operatively connected to said holder, a pipe extending from the upper tIS portion'of each still to the lower portion of said holder, a manifold connected to each still, a pipe connected tosaid manifold, a pump operatively connected to said last named from the lower portion of said holder to said pump.

8. An apparatus of the class described including a plurality of stills, a holder arranged above said stills, a condenser operatively connected to said holder, a narrow pipe extending from the upper portion of each still to the lower portion of said holder, a manifold connected to each still, a pipe connected to said manifold, a pump-operatively connected to said pipe, and another pipe extending from the lower portion of said holder to said pump.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8,

in which said pipes are provided with control valves.

In testlmony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES R. BURKE.

pipe and another pipe extending" 

